Friday, March 11, 2016

Mission Hills, China -- South Korean Ji Han Sol edged one stroke clear of a crowded leaderboard as play was suspended
due to darkness for a second day at the World Ladies Championship in China.

After
Thursday’s play was interrupted due to heavy rain and storms, half the
field was forced to return to complete their first round
on the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills Resort, Dongguan on Friday
morning, meaning a long day in testing conditions for many competitors.

Ji, however, finished her opening round of 68 early on Thursday, meaning
she could enjoy a sleep-in before starting her
second round at 17:20.

Well
rested, she came firing out of the blocks with two birdies in three
holes, picking up a shot on the par-four second before holing
a wedge shot at the third to hit six-under before play was suspended.

The 19-year-old Korean LPGA Tour player, who is yet to win a
professional tournament, sits one clear of compatriot Kim Bo-Kyung, who
had a flawless 66, with the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British
Open runner-up Ko Jin Young a stroke further back in third.

Kim, whose tournament low round included six birdies, said: “My
long putting was good and saved my round. I’m so lucky that I made
birdies on the par fives. This course is difficult and making long putts
from seven to 10 metres always helps.

"My short putting was not as good
and I missed several birdie chances. My wedge
play helped a lot today and I made some good sand saves because the
lies in the bunkers weren’t too bad.”

In
fourth place on three-under-par, Lin Tzu-Chi of Chinese Taipei is one
of only two non-Korean players in the top 10, along with Celine Herbin
of France in a share of seventh place
after as many holes completed in her second round. Lin was up at 5am to
complete her first round and ended her second 12 hours later.

She said:
“I feel very tired right now. I played 25 holes today. I think mental
and physical fitness are tied together but
sometimes if your mentality is strong you can keep going.”

It was a similar story for Valentine Derrey of France, who played 27 holes and shares 12th
place on level par after a second round 74. She said: “It was a long
day and
felt tough, because I was up early, at 5am. At one point it got very
cold but I kept fighting.”

Klara Spilkova of the Czech Republic was also
on level par after seven holes in her second round, while the 2015
Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year Emily Kristine
Pedersen of Denmark is the next best placed European in a share of 24th place on two-over-par.

Pedersen’s sparkling second round 68 included an eagle 3 on the signature 15th
hole, turning strongly right to left around an enormous reservoir lined
with 20 bunkers
stretching all the way to the green. After hitting her 3-wood into the
fairway, she laid up with a 4-iron, before holing her third shot
from 108 metres, using a 46 degree wedge.

In
the team competition for pairs running concurrently, South Korea holds a
seven-stroke lead over France, with Herbin yet to finish her second
round and Chinese Taipei is currently
third.

Round two will resume at 7.30am on Saturday morning local time and the third round is expected to begin at 2pm local time.

SCOTSWATCH (by Colin Farquharson): Kylie Walker, pictured at top of the article, is the only Scot definitely through to the third round. She has shot a pair of 74s for four-over 148. The projected cut figure, once everyone has finished 36 holes, is 149 and better.

Carly Booth, Pamela Pretswell, amateur Hannah McCook and Sally Watson have still to complete their second rounds